In two new ads, NFL stars Eli Manning and Tony Romo play dual roles: their real personas who have DirecTV and lamer alter egos who settle for cable. Mr. Romo plays an awkward arts-and-crafts version of himself while Mr. Manning is a cringe-worthy stand-up comedian.

The format is essentially the same as the well-known Rob Lowe ads, which the Council of Better Business Bureau's National Advertising Division said in April made misleading claims about DirecTV's service in regards to its competitors. In the case of the ads with Mr. Romo and Mr. Manning, DirecTV does have exclusivity for its Sunday Ticket NFL program, which the new commercials are touting.

Sunday Ticket has long been the turf of Mr. Manning and his brother Peyton Manning, who have generated online buzz for their goofy rap video ads. Mr. Romo told CMO Today in April that "we're going to leave the rapping to Eli and Peyton."